US to deport Indian priest on sex charges

Prior to his assignment in Blue Earth in 2009, Father Koppala had served at the Resurrection R.C. parish in Rochester.

United States:

A Catholic priest of Nellore diocese, who served in the US, is now in the process of being deported back to India after being sentenced Monday for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.

Father Leo Koppala, who served in Minnesota’s Blue Earth and Rochester pleaded guilty to Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct in Faribault County Court two weeks ago, a US-based website, myfox47.com, reported.

While serving at Saints Peter and Paul parish in Blue Earth last summer, Father Koppala was accused of touching and kissing the girl at her family’s home.

Now–as part of his stayed 46-month prison sentence– he’ll have to register as a sex offender and has been ordered not to have any contact with girls under the age of 18.

Federal agents picked up Koppala at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing at the courthouse, and he’s being deported back to India.

The Diocese of Winona said Koppala has been permanently removed from the priesthood. In a statement emailed to reporters, the Diocese outlined that Bishop John Quinn has taken “extensive measures” to make sure that the Vatican and the Bishop of Nellore know of Koppala’s conduct to appropriately deal with him upon his return to India.

Prior to his assignment in Blue Earth in 2009, Father Koppala had served at the Resurrection R.C. parish in Rochester.

Fergus Misquitta is absolutely on the dot. Just because Father Leo Koppala, is a priest (actually he is a predator), he is being conveniently deported to India instead of being put behind the bars in the US where he committed the crime. What a travesty of justice!

What appropriate treatment will the Bishop of Nellore ( Fr Koppala’s Indian religious authority) mete out to him upon his return to India?

In the background of the Indian Church’s rich history of sweeping matters under the carpet, will the Bishop of Nellore and the CBCI let the Indian laity know of action taken in this matter against the culprit priest who otherwise will be lurking for more victims in India? India’s Laity is deserves a decisive declaration from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, one of eight wise men advising Pope Francis, on the steps taken against one his fellow priests.